About dk - The Mushroom Man

Professional Experiences of
DIBYENDU KANTI MAZUMDAR

In brief to enumerate my experience in the field, my interest in mushroom grew during my Graduation and Post Graduation Studies 1985.

From the year 1989 I have been engaged in the development of Mushroom Cultivation in rural areas of India as an alternative economic approach to the rural youth. With this in view, I had taken a special training course on ‘Mushroom Cultivation and Spawn Production’ from BCKV, Nadia.

To establish Mushroom as an Alternate source of Nutrition and Alternate source of Economy throughout North East India and the Country also Internationally, numerous awareness program is organised regularly, to mention only a few.

I had given consultancy regarding Mushroom Cultivation to Divisional Forest Office, 24-Paraganas Division (Sundarban Biosphere Reserve) for development of their Mushroom farms at Canning, Bakkhali and Diamond Harbour. This technology was used to train the fringe population of Biosphere Reserve to develop an new avenue in economy. This programme was covered by Calcutta Doordarshan (World Bank Project).

I had taken part in National Environmental Awarness Campaign (NEAC) 1991 of the Ministry of Environment, Govt. of India, in collaboration with ‘Indian Society for Wildlife Research’ at Jalpaiguri and held theoretical lecture, practical demonstration of Mushroom Cultivation to the fringe population of the Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary as an alternative economic approach, February, 1991.

Awareness training programme regularly at various corners of the State organized by voluntary organization “Mushroom Research Bureau” (June, August, 1991).

I had been invited by the Director, West Bengal Forest School, Directorate of forests, Government of West-Bengal, Dow Hill (Kurseong) Darjeeling to deliver a lecture entitled “Mushroom Cultivation and Eco-restoration” to the Trainees of 1990-1991, 1991-1992 and 1994-95course of Dy. Ranger / Forester training at W. B. F. S. on July 1991,  July 1992, and May, 1995  The Programme included practical demonstration of Mushroom cultivation Methodology. This subject has been included in their regular training schedule.

I had been invited and delivered a popular lecture entitled “Mushroom Cultivation its feasibility and Marketing” at Birla Industrial and Technical Museum, 19-A, Gurusaday Road, Calcutta –19 on 19th July 1991

I have organised various training Programmes with “Paschim Banga Mahila Samity” 188/2, B. B.Ganguly Street, Calcutta -12, regarding Mushroom Cultivation in August, 1991, and March -June 1994.

At Khalbolia (Stn. Majdia Dt. Nadia) I have organized a training camp with 100 candidates for 3 months (Sept. -Dec., 1991) and many of them have become competent and started Mushroom Cultivation on their own.

Organized a training Programme with Mushroom Training Center, Silpa Samity Para, Jalpaiguri with practical demonstration during February, 1992.

To Standardize Mushroom Cultivation Methodology and, Mushroom processing to various marketable finished products, I have done research work under the guidance of Dr. D. C. Khatua, Head, Department of Plant Pathology(BCKV), Nadia for three year (D .B. T. Project).

I have setup & trained personals for a spawn production laboratory at Ushagram Trust Birnagar Nadia, sponsored by DRDA, Nadia in accordance to NABARD, Nadia with the capacity to produce 100 packets of Mushroom Spawn (200gms. each) daily.

• Organising regular training programmes on Mushroom Cultivation to rural people.
• Organized Training programme on Mushroom cultivation at Raigarh (M.P) during Feb. 1994.
• Organized Training programme on Mushroom cultivation at “Sree Ma Mahila Samity” Dutta Phulia, Nadia.
• Organized several Training programme on Mushroom cultivation at “Ushagram Trust” Birnagar, Nadia.

Set up and trained personnel for a spawn production Laboratory at Darjeeling Forest Division, Darjeeling, in accordance to Forest Department Govt. of West Bengal, With the capacity to produce 100 packets of Mushroom Spawn (200gms. each) daily, to meet the demand of Darjeeling District (World Bank Project).

Organized and setup mushroom cultivation Units at different Forest Villages of Darjeeling Forest Division, to find alternate economy to Forest Protection Committee of fringe areas as a part of the programme of Joint Forest Management Programme (World Bank Project).

Free consultancy to those involved/interested in mushroom cultivation at H. M. R. S., regularly.

Setting up commercial Mushroom spawn production laboratory at Hooghly & Jalpaiguri as a programme to extend mushroom cultivation at rural belts.

Set up and trained personnel for a spawn production Laboratory at Lataguri, Jalpaiguri Forest Department, Jalpaiguri in accordance to Forest Division Govt, of West Bengal, with the capacity to produce 100 packets of Mushroom spawn (200 gms. each) daily, to meet the demand of Jalpaiguri Districts (World Bank Project).

Setup and trained personnel for a spawn production Laboratory at Kalimpong Forest Development Corporation, Kalimpong in accordance to produce 100 packets of Mushroom spawn (200 gms. each) daily to meet the demand of Kalimpong Sub- Division (World Bank Project).

Organized and setup several Mushroom cultivation units for Forest Villagers (Forest Protection Committee) at Rambi (Dist. Darjeeling), Lataguri, Nagrakata, Birpara (Dist. Jalpaiguri).

Setup and trained personnel for a spawn production Laboratory at Sukna, Minor Forest Produce Division, Dist. Darjeeling in accordance to Forest Division Govt. of West Bengal, with the capacity to produce 100 packets of Mushroom spawn (200 gms. each) daily to meet the demand of spawn at the foothills of Darjeeling Division (World Bank Project).

Setup and trained personnel for a spawn production Laboratory at Tarapur, Maharastra to meet the demand of Tarapur rural areas.

Worked with B. D. O. Jalpaiguri Division to train up DWCRA groups for Mushroom cultivation as an alternate economic approach.

Presently giving professional guidance and supplying spawn regurly to commercial mushroom firms at Siliguri, Jalpaiguri, Falakata, Jaigaon, Kalimpong, Darjeeling, Kurseong and Islampur.

Assisting W.B.C.A.D.C., (Siliguri-Naxalbari Project) in there Mushroom Projects.

Assisting W.B. State seed Corporation Limited , and W.B. Agriculture Department to make a successful introduction of Mushroom Cultivation in closed Tea Gardens (Ramjhora T.G.).

Assisting Department of Botany, P.D.Women’s College, Jalpaiguri, in there project –‘Mushroom- An alternate source of Nutrition and Economy’.

Resource person 2006 on Mushroom, for “State Bank Learning Centre”, Siliguri-734001.